Arkansas coaches hope to woo recruits at cookout

Arkansas coach Chad Morris speaks with players Wednesday, March 28, 2018, during practice at the university's practice facility on campus in Fayetteville.

Everybody loves a good picnic/cookout, especially when you are celebrating our great nation’s birthday as we are doing this July 4th week.

Arkansas’ football coaches are using that same concept during the July 27-29 weekend, when they will be hosting several commitments and several top recruiting targets - including seven four-star prospects - for what is being dubbed the Woo Pig Cookout.

That list includes such top in-state talents as Pulaski Academy tight end Hudson Henry (6-5, 230), the Warren duo of wide receiver Treylon Burks (6-3, 210) and defensive lineman Marcus Miller (6-5, 300), Camden Fairview offensive lineman Stacey Wilkins (6-7, 280) and Pulaski Robinson defensive end/linebacker Zach Williams (6-4, 220). Those last two will be on their official visits.

Razorback head coach Chad Morris and his staff are doing everything they can to keep all nine 2019 in-state targets they have offered to stay home for college. The Woo Pig Cookout will be used as a way to get as many as they can in one spot before they open up high school practice in early August.

Henry is ranked ESPN’s 51st-best player nationally, Burks come in at 89 in the country, and Jonesboro offensive lineman Darius Thomas (6-6, 310) is at 227 in ESPN’s opinion.

Wilkins has official visits planned to Oklahoma, Texas and Georgia after his trip to Arkansas.

Williams has already officially visited Louisville, Oregon State and TCU with Texas joining Arkansas as his likely top five candidates.

Two linebackers who may be taking their official visits that weekend are Gulfport, Miss., linebacker Derek Hall (6-4, 217) and Fullerton, Calif., College’s Caleb Johnson (6-1, 215). Johnson is a mid-term graduate that could go through 2019 spring practice.

Other top targets due in that weekend are Oklahoma City, Okla., Putnam City, defensive end Collin Clay (6-5, 255) and Richmond, Texas, linebacker Zach Zimos (6-4, 210). Clay has already made his official visit to Arkansas. Zimos will be on his official visit to Arkansas that weekend after an unofficial visit earlier.

I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Clay, Zimos and Williams all walk away from that weekend as Razorbacks whether they make a public announcement about it or not. Clay plans to commit Sept. 21 from a group that includes Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Georgia, TCU and Oregon.

Arkansas wide receiver pledge Shamar Nash, 6-1, 195 of Bradenton, Fla., IMG Academy, is slated to be on hand as is his IMG defensive end teammate and fellow Memphis native Eric Gregory (6-4, 240). Gregory is committed to Memphis, as is Memphis Whitehaven offensive lineman Melvin McBride (6-4, 315) and Ole Miss athlete commit Diwun Black (6-3, 220) of Forest, Miss.

Edmond, Okla., Santa Fe defensive end target Trace Ford (6-3, 230) and safety Jalon Catalon (5-9, 180) of Mansfield, Texas, Legacy are two other invited guests.

Others expected for the Woo Pig Cookout are Arkansas offensive line commits Beaux Limmer (6-5, 270) of Tyler, Texas, Lee and Joseph Stone (6-8, 340) of Trussville, Ala., Hewitt-Trussville and Razorback wide receiver commit and Jefferon, Texas star TQ Jackson (6-3, 185), who pledged earlier this week.

Arkansas quarterback commit KJ Jefferson (6-3, 211) of Sardis, Miss., North Panola, and defensive end pledge Mataio Soli (6-3, 225) of Douglasville, Ga., Douglas County, are hoping to make it as are several other prospects.